Kartal wins nine games in a row to claim biggest win of her life

LONDON :Britain's Sonay Kartal surged into the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time on Friday with a remarkable turnaround performance against French qualifier Diane Parry as she won nine games in a row to come from 4-1 down to triumph 6-4 6-2.

Parry, who hammered 12th seed Diana Shnaider in the last round, was in control early on but the Briton eventually got to grips with the challenge and, roared on by a partisan Number One court crowd, began an unstoppable comeback that secured the first set and put her 4-0 up in the second.

Parry’s spirit seemed to have disappeared along with her accuracy and the 23-year-old battling Briton took full advantage with a relentless forehand fusillade to claim the biggest victory of her injury-hit career.

"I think everyone saw that I started off pretty nervous – it’s definitely the biggest and most meaningful stage that I've played on," Kartal said.

"I've got a lot of people here and I really wanted to do them proud and do myself proud."

When Kartal upset 20th seed Jelena Ostapenko in the first round on Monday it launched a great day for Britain with an Open Era record seven players advancing, and another three on Tuesday.

Four days later only her and Emma Raducanu and Cameron Norrie remain, and the former US Open champion and regular junior rival of Kartal's faces a huge challenge to also progress to the fourth when she faces world number one Aryna Sabalenka later.

For a while it did not look as if Kartal would have a chance of making a first Grand Slam last 16 appearance as Parry made a composed and confident start.

The Frenchwoman’s low, skiddy backhand slice proved really challenging for the diminutive Briton and she was looking in command at 4-1 up.

Parry then saved three break